If you need to know what is wrong with a roof, the traditional answer is to put up scaffolding or hire a cherry picker. Often that is more than the job needs. Here is how to decide.
What a drone survey does well
A drone gets close-up, high-resolution imagery of every roof slope, valley, chimney and gutter, usually in under an hour for a single building. Nobody works at height and nothing is put up.
It is the right choice when you need to:
- Find out what is wrong. Slipped tiles, failed flashing, blocked gutters, cracked pointing and ponding on flat roofs all show clearly.
- Record condition. Before buying, leasing or handing over a building, or after a storm for an insurance claim.
- Survey many roofs. Across a school, an estate or a business park, recorded the same way so you can compare them.
- Check work has been done. Before-and-after imagery of a repair.
When you still need access equipment
A drone looks; it does not touch. You still need someone on the roof, with safe access, when:
- the repair itself has to be carried out;
- a defect needs opening up, such as lifting tiles to check the battens or felt beneath;
- you need physical tests, such as core samples from a flat roof.
Use both, in the right order
The cheapest approach is often to fly first. The drone survey shows exactly where the problems are, so any scaffolding or access equipment is only put up where it is needed, for as long as it is needed. Contractors can also price the work accurately from the report rather than guessing from the ground.
What to ask for
Whoever you use, ask for:
- Complete coverage: every slope and elevation, not a handful of photos.
- An annotated report: each defect located on the roof, with a photo and a priority.
- The original images: so you have a dated record.
- A fixed, written quote: listing what you will receive.
If you would like a drone roof survey, tell us about the building and we will send you a fixed quote.